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HOME > Consular Legalization > Guidelines for Legalization Applications
Part Two: How to Apply for a Consular Legalization
2021-10-03 23:39

I. Application Procedure

1. Documents issued by the U.K. Government, such as original marriage certificate, birth certificate etc. can be directly legalized by the Legalization Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or its authorized institutions.

2. Documents not issued by government institutions shall be certified by local Notaries Public/Solicitors in advance before applying for legalization by the FCDO or its authorized institutions.

3. Documents that have been legalized by FCDO or its authorized institutions, may be submitted to the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers (CVASC) by appointments for consular legalization.

II. Supporting Documents

1. A printout of the "Application Form of Consular Legalization of the EmbassyConsulate of the People's Republic of China.doc" completed by the applicant. For death certificate legaliazation, a specific application form Legalization for Death Certificate.pdf is required.

Note: The applicant's information shall be filled in Section 1 or Section 2 and the original signatures of the applicant are required for Section 8. Any documents submitted by an agent, the agent's information shall be filled in Section 7 and the original signature of the agent is required for Section 8.

2. A. If the applicant submits the application personally, then he/she should provide his/her valid passport and a photocopy of it.

    B. If the application is submitted by an agent, then the agent's valid passport and photocopies of both the agent's and applicant's passports are required.

   C. When the application is submitted through a commercial agency, an authorization letter from the agency is also necessary, in addition to the requirement in B.

3. For legalizing the "certificate of Incorporation" of a company, proof of identity of the legal representative of the company is required, such as passport and documents that can prove the legal representative's position in the company.

4. The original documents and photocopies of the Apostille issued by the FCDO or its authorized institutions. The documents comprising of two or more pages should be bound together with silk ribbons and sealed properly by the Notary Public/Solicitor (sample attached). Documents could not be accepted if they have been altered or fail to meet the binding and seal requirements. Blank pages (including the cover page) should be marked with "no text".

5. Other supporting documents the consular officer may request.

Notes and additional requirements for legalization of the following documents:                           


Documents to be Legalized

Notes

Supporting documents

Marriage Certificate

The applicant should be one party of the marriage.

Single affidavits/certificates intended to be used for marriage registration in Chinaare only valid for six months from the date of issue.

A photocopy of the spouse's valid passport.

Birth Certificate

The application should be filed by the child's parent or guardian, with the child as the Applicant and the parent/guardian as the Agent, but "signature of applicant" should be done by the parent or guardian. The parent of a child can also act as Applicant if his/her information is included in the Birth Certificate.

----

Death Certificate

The application ofDeath Certificate 

legalization should be submitted by a close relative of the decedent, with the decedent's information filled in Section 1, and the "signature of applicant" done by the relative. The close relative alsoneed to complete Section 7.

a.Certificate of kinship;

b.Valid identity document for both the decedent and the close relative;

c.An authorization letter from the close relative if the application is submitted by an authorized individual.

Adoption

Applications of legalization for any document to be used for adoption in China can only be submitted through Department of Education (DfE) of UK,which isdesignated for inter-country adoptions by UK government. Applications through solicitors or individuals will not be accepted.

a.The official letterissued by DfE;

b.The notarized adoption documents (marital status,health, asset, income and certificate of no-criminal record)are only valid for six months from the date of issue.


Ⅲ. Processing Time

1. Regular Service: Documents will be ready for collection on the fourth working day

2. Express Service: Documents will be ready for collection on the third working day

Note: The above processing time is for reference only. In case of more supporting documents being requested or force majeure, more processing time may be needed and the applicant has to wait for further notice about the collection date.

IV. Fees:


Type of Legalization

Fees

Civil Affairs

£6 (Chinese Citizen)

£17 (Foreign Citizen)

Commercial Affairs

£11 (Chinese Citizen)

£34 (Foreign Citizen)

Surcharge for express service

£19 (Chinese Citizen)

£19 (Foreign Citizen)


Note: An extra service fee will be charged if application is filed through the CVASC.

Service fees charged by Chinese Visa Application Service Center:

Regular Service: £ 30 (VAT included)

Express Service: £ 42 (VAT included)

Postal Service: £ 54 (VAT included)

Total charge of a legalization application = Legalization fee + Service fee

V. Important Notices

1. At present, the "Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents" applies to Hong Kong Special Administration Region and Macao Special Administration Region, any documents issued in the U.K. with an "Apostille" can be used in Hong Kong Special Administration Region and Macao Special Administration Region directly.

2. Documents produced on "Isle of Man", "Bailiwick of Jersey"and"Bailiwick of Guernsey" can be legalized by their local institutions authorized by the FCDO, while those produced on other British Overseas Territories such as "British Virgin Islands", need to be legalized by Legalization Office of the FCDO before they are legalized by the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in the U.K..

3. Applications by post or delivered by courier are not accepted by the Chinese Embassy or Consulates in the U.K..

4. Documents produced outside the U.K. to be used in China should be legalized in the country where they are produced.

5.The following applications will not be accepted:

  1) The seal or signature of the documents is not true or accurate.

  2) The seal or signature of the documents could not be verified through our records.

 3) The documents fail to meet technological requirements of binding, seal, signature, or statute of limitation etc. according to both the issuer and user of the documents .

  4) Documents are issued by domestic institutions in China such as Chinese passport, ID or driving license.

  5) The contents of the documents violate Chinese laws or may impair China's national or public interests.

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